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Ovulation: Achieve and Conceive?

Are you hoping to hold your own little bundle of joy soon?
Trying to get pregnant can be a lot of fun, but for many couples it
can be frustrating too.

Fertility is the result of many factors coming together at one time. Knowing the basics can help you make changes that could increase your chances of
conceiving.

Ovulation

During ovulation, an egg is released into the fallopian tube. Sperm must come in contact with the egg within 24-48 hours for pregnancy to take place. If the egg is not
fertilized, menstruation will usually occur in about 2 weeks. Tracking your menstrual cycle will help you determine your best chance for pregnancy.

A woman's menstrual cycle starts from the first day of her
period to the first day of her next period. It is usually 23-35 days long. Although ovulation can be irregular, it typically
occurs 12-16 days before the start of your next menstrual
period. For example, in a 28-day cycle, ovulation often occurs on the 14th day.

Because ovulations may be irregular a calendar tracking may not work for you. The following methods can also help you determine when you are
fertile:

Rise in Basal Body Temperature

Right after ovulation, many women have an increase in basal (early morning) body
temperature. It may increase about 0.5°F-1.6°F. By taking and
recording your temperature every morning before rising, you should
note a pattern over the next few cycles. Plan to have intercourse
during the 2-3 days before your temperature normally
rises. The downside of this method is that you must be vigilant in
taking and recording your temperature every day for several
months.

Keep in mind that drinking or smoking and poor sleep patterns can have an effect on your basal body temperature.

Physical Changes

You may be able to determine ovulation by observing changes in
your body. One change is that your cervical mucus becomes clear,
slippery, stretchy, (similar to raw egg whites) on the days before ovulation. This mucus helps
to increase the movement of the sperm through the uterus to the
fallopian tubes where it meets the egg.

Some women also experience
discomfort, achiness, or twinges of pain in the lower abdomen during
ovulation. The discomfort may last
for a few minutes or several hours.

Ovulation Test Kits

Easy-to-use kits for determining ovulation are available in many
stores. They involve urinating on test strips which change color
when you are ovulating. The changes are caused by hormones specific to ovulation. Accuracy varies depending on the product, so try different ones to see which one is more accurate for your.

Increasing Your Chances of Conceiving

Understanding ovulation is just one factor in pregnancy. If you are trying to get pregnant, keep these factors in mind:

Frequent intercourse will increase your chance of getting pregnant during your fertile period. It will not decrease male
fertility.

Lubricants can slow sperm motility. You may want to avoid their use if you are trying
to conceive.

Use a combination of all these methods.

It may be more difficult to conceive in the first few months after stopping the use of birth control.

Remember that even if conceiving your previous child was easy, it
does not mean that future pregnancies will be easy to
achieve. Knowing your how your body responds to hormonal changes can increase the chances putting you on the road to a healthy pregnancy. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are planning on becoming pregnant.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

Natural family planning. The American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists website. Available at: http://www.acog.org/~/media/For%20Patients/faq024.pdf?dmc=1&ts=20121205T1356158818. Accessed December 9, 2014.